Updated 20 May 2015

Diseases from cats

Bites and scratches from cats can transmit germs and this can cause infection.

Summary

Diseases that cats spread to humans fall into two main groups, namely parasitic infestations and bacterial or viral infections.

There are very few diseases that can spread from cats to humans.

The only two that have potentially serious/fatal consequences to normally healthy people are toxoplasmosis and rabies.

Cat faeces can be the source of many infections and should not be handled without gloves. Washing of hands after handling faeces is essential.

All bite and scratch marks should be washed immediately with hot water and disinfectant or soap.

Description

Zoonoses is a general name for diseases which spread from animals to people who have close contact with them, or with their faeces. There are in fact very few diseases from which animals suffer which can be spread to humans. Diseases such as feline Aids, distemper, flu, colds and hookworm cannot spread from pets to people. Rabies is an exception and all cases of rabies, which is always fatal once symptoms appear, are taken very seriously by the authorities.

Most often diseases are spread from pets to people by means of bites, scratches or direct contact with the animal or its faeces. This is definitely the case where cats are concerned. Bites and scratches from cats can transmit germs from the cat's mouth to your skin and this can cause infection, which may be serious. Usually immediate cleaning of the injured area with soap and water will minimise the risk of infection, but if swelling and inflammations occur, it is best to see a doctor.

The main types of diseases which people can pick up from cats are toxoplasmosis, rabies, cat scratch disease, salmonella, campylobacter, giardia and cryptosporidium, roundworm and ringworm.

Toxoplasmosis

Causes

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single-cell parasite, toxoplasma gondii, which can only reproduce in the cells lining the intestines of cats. While most pets can carry this disease, only cats shed the eggs or oocysts that cause this infection. Cats get this infection from eating rodents or insects, or by being in contact with other infected cats or their faeces.

Who is at risk?

Toxoplasmosis is transmitted to humans when they do not wash their hands after coming into contact with cat faeces, while gardening or cleaning out cat litter trays, or when children play in sandboxes. It can also be spread by eating unwashed fruit and vegetables, grown in soil contaminated by cat faeces. Eating raw or undercooked meat also exposes people to the dormant form of the parasite.

It is most dangerous to a pregnant woman, who can transfer this infection to her foetus through the placenta. This could cause a miscarriage, or may cause the baby to be stillborn or born with congenital toxoplasmosis. This could be fatal for a baby. If the child survives, it can suffer from blindness, jaundice, convulsions and severe mental retardation.

Signs and symptoms

If a person has acquired toxoplasmosis after birth, there are very seldom any symptoms. In babies, mild symptoms could appear shortly after birth, but most often only years later. Symptoms vary tremendously, depending on which type of toxoplasmosis a person has been infected with. Possible symptoms include fever, a general feeling of malaise and swollen lymph nodes. If a person's immune system has been compromised in some way, such as is the case when someone has Aids, toxoplasmosis can lead to potentially life-threatening brain infections.

Diagnosis

The presence of antibodies against the parasite can be determined by a blood test. This is the method used most frequently to determine whether someone has been infected with toxoplasmosis. In the case of immune-compromised patients, a doctor may decide on a CT- or MRI brain scan to make the diagnosis.

Treatment

Generally the prognosis for people who acquired toxoplasmosis after birth is good. Most people who have a well-functioning immune system need no treatment at all and the disease disappears by itself. For pregnant women or persons who have weakened immune systems, drugs are available to treat toxoplasmosis.

Prevention

There is no vaccine for toxoplasmosis, and prevention consists of commonsense measures to reduce exposure to the parasite. Pregnant women should not handle cat litter. Other people should only clean litter boxes while wearing plastic gloves, and hands should be washed afterwards using hot water and disinfectant soap. Children's sandboxes should be covered. Vegetables should be washed properly and hands washed after handling raw meat. Meat should be cooked properly. Gloves should be worn while gardening and hands should be properly washed afterwards.

Rabies

Causes

This fatal viral infection affects the brain and spinal cord, causing both irritation and inflammation. Pets can infect humans with this virus. What usually happens is that they themselves have been infected by an animal, usually a wild one, carrying the virus in their saliva. This virus is mostly spread by means of bites. This disease, though found more often in dogs than cats, can also be spread when rabid cats bite humans. Once symptoms appear, rabies is always fatal to both animals and humans.

Who is at risk?

If a rabid animal bites a person, rabies usually results. People are at risk if they come into contact with wild animals, in South Africa particularly suricates (meerkatte), the black-backed jackal or the bat-eared fox, who may be infected with rabies. People who have pets who may have been bitten by a rabid wild animal or by another pet which may have contracted rabies, are at risk. It stands to reason therefore that people living in rural areas or on the outskirts of cities are at greater risk than people living in urban areas. As bites are the source of rabies infection, which can be fatal, all bites should be treated as medical emergencies, particularly if the animal involved is wild, or is a pet that is showing abnormal behaviour.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of rabies can take anything from 20 to 60 days to manifest. Symptoms vary from person to person, but one in every five people who have rabies, develop rising paralysis. Symptoms often appear flu-like – sore throat, a headache, fever and nausea and vomiting. Depression, restlessness and insomnia often also mark the onset of rabies symptoms. Overproduction of saliva and uncontrollable excitement and aggression often marks the next phase, followed by spasms of the throat and voice box, which can be extremely painful. This happens, because rabies affects the area in the brain responsible for breathing and swallowing. Attempts to drink water can also bring on these spasms.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing rabies in its early stages, especially if a doctor is not told about an animal bite, is not easy, as the symptoms are varied and can appear to be the symptoms of many other diseases. In order to make a confirmed diagnosis of rabies, brain tissue of the animal which bit the person must be examined. In the case of a pet, which shows no symptoms, the animal may be observed by a veterinarian for ten days to determine whether the animal was infected with rabies at the time of the bite. Viral testing of a person is ineffective in the case of rabies, but both a skin biopsy and a blood test can reveal the virus. In the case of the blood test, it will only help in diagnosing the condition once serious symptoms have set in.

Treatment and prevention

It is possible to vaccinate people against rabies. This is usually done in the case of people who, through their work, may come into contact with animals that may be infected. Game rangers, veterinarians and laboratory workers all fall into this group. The vaccine should be administered every two years.

Immediate preventative steps must be taken when someone may have been bitten by a rabid animal. This can prevent someone from developing rabies. Cleaning the contaminated area with hot water and disinfectant immediately after a bite also reduces the infection risk. Vaccination against rabies and a tetanus injection must also be given immediately after a bite. Before vaccination was available, death usually occurred in three to 10 days, and was usually caused by paralysis, asphyxia, convulsions or exhaustion. People can still die from rabies, especially if treatment is delayed after the initial bite occurred.

Rabies is best prevented when all animal bites are considered medical emergencies, especially if the animal who bit the person concerned is not known, is wild, or was acting strangely at the time the bite occurred.

People who regularly come into contact with a range of animals, especially through their work or hobbies, should be vaccinated regularly.

Human rabies can be prevented, even after someone has been bitten by a rabid animal. The important thing is to get the appropriate treatment before the person starts showing signs of rabies.

Cat scratch disease

Cause

Cat scratch disease is an infection that occurs at the site of a cat scratch. This is caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. This disease is also known by the name Bartonellosis. A virulent form of this disease is found in people who have Aids.

Kittens, whose claws are especially sharp, often pass this infection on, even by means of a minor scratch. This type of bacteria infects the walls of the blood vessels in humans, whereas cats show no symptoms of this disease.

Symptoms

A red and crusty blister, sometimes as large as 4cm in diameter can develop around the scratch. Swollen lymph nodes, a fever and headaches are common symptoms of cat scratch disease. A decrease in appetite is also found in some sufferers.

Treatment

In most people these symptoms will disappear, but can take two to five months to do so. A blood test can reveal antibodies to the bacteria causing this infection. Painkillers, draining the lymph nodes and occasionally antibiotics are all methods of combating this disease. Most people recover completely.

Prevention

The simplest method of prevention is to avoid being scratched by cats. Children should be taught to handle cats gently. If someone has been scratched, it is wise to wash the affected area immediately with hot water and soap/disinfectant.

Campylobacter infection

Cause

This bacterium causes intestinal infections and can be transferred easily from cats to humans. This happens easily when people do not wash their hands properly after coming into contact with animal faeces, especially diarrhoea. These bacteria are also found in meat and undercooked poultry, untreated water and unpasteurised milk, so animal faeces is not the only source of these infection-causing bacteria.

Symptoms

Abdominal cramping and pain, diarrhoea, which is sometimes bloody, nausea and vomiting, as well as fever are all symptoms of this kind of bacterial infection, which can cause severe dehydration.

Treatment

Usually no special treatment is needed. In severe cases, a health care professional can prescribe an antibiotic. Very few people die from a campylobacter infection.

Prevention

It is nevertheless important to steer clear of having direct contact with cat (and other animal) faeces. Regular cleaning of litter boxes is important, as is the wearing of gloves while doing so. Sandpits should be kept covered when they are not being used.

Salmonella

Causes

Salmonella bacteria are found in the gut and faeces of humans and animals, as well as in many different foodstuffs, especially raw meat. Salmonella bacteria can cause food poisoning, which in turn leads to diarrhoea and vomiting.

People can be infected with salmonella through direct contact with their pets, or with their faeces. Proper washing of hands is essential after touching pets, or cleaning animal cages or after coming into contact with pet faeces.

Symptoms

The symptoms of salmonella poisoning are headaches, a fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

Treatment

Cases of salmonella poisoning mostly clear up by themselves and do not require special treatment. In the case of the very young, the very old and those who have compromised immunity, medical attention must be sought. It is nevertheless wise to consult a doctor if the diarrhoea becomes severe in anyone, as dehydration may result.

Prevention

To prevent salmonella infection from cats, it is wise to be very careful when handling cat faeces, such as in litter trays. It is best to wear gloves when doing this task and to wash hands properly afterwards. Children's sandpits should be covered when not in use.

Giardia and cryptosporidium

Causes

These are parasites called protozoa that can cause intestinal disease. Cats can be infected with these parasites, without having any symptoms themselves. Direct contact with pets can cause people to be infected with these parasites.

Symptoms

Watery diarrhoea and severe stomach cramps are the most common symptoms of this intestinal infection.

Treatment

Once again, in most people, the symptoms disappear by themselves after two to three days, but in people who have immune system problems, this infection could be fatal.

Prevention

Children should be taught to always wash their hands after playing with pets, as direct contact is the most common way in which these parasites can infect people.

Cat roundworm (Toxocariasis or Visceral Larva Migrans)

The type of roundworm found in cats is called Toxocara cati, and can infect humans. Infestation of humans by roundworm is common, especially in developing countries, where sanitation is often poor and access to clean drinking water limited. Roundworms are cylindrical in shape and can be short or long.

Causes

The causes of roundworm infection follow the pattern of most worm infestations. Eggs of the worm are discharged in the stool of an animal or human. Eggs can be ingested directly if contaminated hands touch the mouth. The eggs hatch in the intestine, releasing larvae which can penetrate the gut wall, enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on a person's age, the intensity of the exposure and sensitivity to the larvae. Symptoms are varied and include pneumonia, coughing, fever, skin rash and liver enlargement.

Diagnosis

The above-mentioned symptoms may alert a doctor to the presence of roundworms. High levels of certain white blood cells is another warning sign. If doubt exists, a biopsy of liver tissue may reveal the presence of roundworm larvae.

Treatment and prevention

Cats should be dewormed regularly. People who have been infected with roundworm usually rid themselves of the parasite without treatment in 6 – 18 months. Mebendazole (Vermox) is often prescribed for people infected with roundworm.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a skin disease caused by a fungus. It is also known as dermatophytosis. It causes circular lesions under the skin. It is not caused by a worm, but was once thought to be the case, hence the name. Ringworm is an infection in the dead layer of the skin, hair and nails. It can be transmitted between pets and people easily through touch. Children are very susceptible to ringworm infections.

Causes

Dogs and cats can transmit ringworm to people through direct contact with the fungus that causes this infection.

Several different types of fungi can cause ringworm and it is usually named after its location on the body, eg. jock itch or athlete's foot, to name two examples. Tricophyton and Epidermophyton are both fungi that can grow in moist warm areas of the body, such as the groin or between the toes.

Signs and symptoms

The most common sign of ringworm is an itchy and raw, painful rash. Sometimes the rash can become scaly and blisters can form. Ringworm can typically affect the feet, the groin, the scalp and the nails. There is also a form of ringworm called body ringworm that can develop anywhere on the skin.

Treatment

Most often these skin infections can be cured by antifungal creams. It is important that instructions be followed carefully, as fungal infections can recur easily if treatment is stopped too soon. Persistent cases of ringworm can be treated with griseofulvin, but sometimes this can cause unpleasant side effects.

Prevention

Keeping the infected areas clean and dry is important. It is also important to treat cats and dogs if they show any signs of ringworm, as it is so easily transmitted through direct contact with humans.

General prevention of diseases cats can spread to humans

The prevention of these diseases is fairly simple. People must avoid coming into contact with cat faeces in gardens or litter trays. Gloves must be worn when cleaning out litter trays and hands must be washed properly after direct contact with cats. Sandpits must be kept covered when not in use, to avoid children coming into contact with cat faeces. Cats should be dewormed regularly and children must be taught not to play roughly with cats, so that scratches can be avoided. Frequent handwashing after contact with cats is essential.

When to see a doctor

All animal bites should be taken very seriously and should be given medical attention. Signs of skin infection also warrant medical attention. Flu-like symptoms and abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhoea are often symptoms of diseases people can get from cats. It is always wise to seek medical attention if any of the above symptoms occur.

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The information on Health24 is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional. See additional information.